The Impact of Implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM) on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) During Construction

Abstract: Health and safety during construction remains a worldwide challenge that the construction industry is facing. The German construction industry recorded an average of 110,000 accidents per year in the period of 2010 to 2019. A discernible trend toward a decrease in occupational accidents is not visible. In this context, traditional safety planning does not seem to be able to guarantee sufficient health and safety during construction. In line with the BIM Roadmap published by the German Ministry of Transport in 2015, it can be recognized that Building Information Modeling (BIM) is supposed to be increasingly used in upcoming years. This paper aims to identify how BIM could positively impact Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) during construction. Therefore, a thesis procedure, combining quantitative and qualitative research with an in depth literature review is introduced. This study reveals a high added value of using BIM for (1) safety rule checking and design validation and (2) safety education, training and communication. BIM as a decision supporting tool has the potential to reduce the underestimation of safety hazards and improve safety reporting, which have been identified as current vulnerabilities in the construction industry. Furthermore, an added benefit to sustainability following the concept of Construction Hazard Prevention through Design (CHPtD) is illustrated. In practice, however, BIM for OSH remains unused, while those working with BIM are not familiar with safety planning. This study indicates that in order to fully utilize the potential of BIM, intuitiveness and standardization is required, while those implementing BIM and those using BIM need to be aware of and willing to exploit the potential of new technologies. The challenge now is to recognize the potential of BIM in relation to OHS and to actively use BIM for health and safety purposes.